Trial Run: The Success of Bt Corn in Kenya

Corn is one of the staple products in Africa. It gained popularity due to the fact it can be cultivated everywhere and in every possible temperature. Surely, the conditions in Africa are difficult and droughts are common but there are other issues that are causing a lot of trouble for the local farmers.

A couple of species of stem borers are known for attacking corn that is cultivated in Africa. This is a huge problem because thousands and thousands of people are relying on these plants as the source of food. Luckily, Bt corn did show great results in standing up to these pests and managing to thrive perfectly.

The research

A study that examined three harvest seasons in Kenya was released this month in the journal called Crop Protection. The scientists analyzed the produce to the smallest details, measuring both the number of successful crops, as well as the damage that was made by stem borers. This research included eighteen different sorts of crops and they were put to test at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization. The examined corn ranged from the high-quality GMO hybrids, to local corn species that were not treated with Bt.

So over the course of three planting seasons, scientists measured the damage that was done to all planted crops as well as the general productivity. It was clear that the first planting season was an overall success with all crop variations. However, the number of healthy products did reduce in the second and third season. It was also evident that Bt corn hybrids yielded more produce than any other planted crop. Mon810 hybrids came in second place, while the non GMO corn gave the least amount of usable corn.

Bt and Mon810 corn hybrids performed really well against pests and they were able to keep all species of stem borers away. Since Bt corn is resistant to these pests “from the inside”, there is no need for farmers to spend their funds on various chemicals in order to treat the outside of their crops. Therefore, Bt corn has a huge impact on the economy, and it can be an excellent source of affordable food to the entire region.

Conclusion

Even though GMO seeds are not widespread in Africa, it is clear that the countries that have implemented the new technology into their agriculture are generally more successful. South Africa is the leading force in producing GMO corn and the surrounding countries are following the same path. Since Bt corn seems to thrive in harsh African weather and the crop is resistant to pests, it is clear that this plant might be the future of farming on this continent.

Everyone would benefit from planting and producing Bt corn, but most importantly – a large number of people would stop worrying about their next meal. Famine is a real problem in Africa and since technology did come a long way, this is a step forward in helping those in need. Bt corn did pass the tests and now we can only hope that it will be accepted by the government in Kenya.

Source: Breaking.com.mx

The Contrast between All-Electric and Hybrid Plug-in Cars

First and foremost, let’s understand the basic differences between an all-electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid. EVs run fully on electric, meaning they don’t use any gasoline. The Ford Focus Electric, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S, and others are among the popular examples of electric vehicles. There’s no backup engine in electric vehicles because they use electric power alone. Since they don’t have to make space for the gasoline engine, electric vehicles usually have more room for batteries which tells us that EVs offer a longer electric-only range than plug-in hybrids. While on the other hand, as their name suggests, plug-in hybrid cars are exactly that- hybrid cars that can be plugged in. the Cadillac ELR, the Chevrolet Volt and the Toyota Prius Plug-In are the popular ones. Two different powertrains are essentially used by plug-in cars, both can drive the wheels- the drivers go a certain limited distance (often between 30 and 40 miles), on the electric motor and there’s a normal gasoline engine that kicks in once the electric motor is depleted.

Several advantages are offered by electric vehicles over plug-in hybrids. What makes the electric vehicle attractive mainly is that they benefit the environment more than plug-in hybrids, since they don’t use any fuel at all, especially to customers looking to minimize their carbon footprint as much as possible. In addition to that electric vehicles help drivers save more money than plug-in hybrids do, since they don’t use any fuel. Since EVs also offer a longer electric-only range than plug-in hybrids, and drivers who want to cruise for as long as possible without using a drop of fuel will be better served with an EV than a plug-in. Plug-in hybrids too offer some advantages. In comparison to EVs, the primary advantage is range. An EV travels as far as its batteries allow.  While plug-in hybrids use gasoline engines in addition to their electric powertrains, and as a result of which is the plug-in drivers get the best of both worlds: electric-vehicle efficiency around town and traditional car range for longer trips.

There are some drawbacks to EVs, obviously. The limited range is by far the largest disadvantage of the EVs. Most electric vehicles are limited to 60 to 70 miles of total range, while the plug-ins can usually travel 30 or 40 miles on fully electric power and an extra 200 to 300 miles on gasoline, which implies that drivers with a long commute, or those who routinely travel more than 60 to 70 miles without overnight stops, would be wise to consider a plug-in hybrid instead of an EV. The only exception is the Tesla Model S, which can travel well over 150 miles between charges, but it still doesn’t have the range of most plug-in hybrids, or the ability to refuel as quickly. For plug-in hybrids, the biggest drawback is variety. The range to choose from is very small, not many models to choose from, as most automakers have instead chosen to offer fully electric vehicles instead. The reason largely is that drivers interested in an electric vehicle tend to want the full experience, using no fuel and benefiting the environment as much as possible. As a matter of fact, today’s crop of plug-in hybrids is limited to just a few models (the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-In are the most popular) compared to a larger offering for EVs.

Both plug-in hybrids and EVs will be beneficial if the main purpose for buying a new car with a fuel-efficient focus is gas-pump savings and tax rebates. In spite of the fact that plug-in hybrids still need to be filled with gas occasionally, fuel costs are still much lower than traditional cars. Federal income tax rebates apply to both plug-in hybrids and EVs, as do most state tax credits most importantly. Both plug-in hybrids and EVs are allowed to be used even in states that use alternative-fuel carpool. Alternative put, one will not and cannot go wrong when choosing an EV or a plug-in cancer hybrid; you’ll just have to choose the one that works best for your situation.

The Future of Medicine: CRISPR Technology vs HIV Virus

HIV virus has been a global problem for decades now, and even though scientists did make progress in battling this illness, these is no definite solution (so far). So it is surprising that the answer might lay in CRISPR technology, primarily developed for genetically modifying crops and plants. CRISPR gene editing method allows scientists to identify and locate the DNA sequence they want to modify and basically improve it by a copy/paste method. So the end result is an edited organism that does not contain any outside DNA.

CRISPR vs HIV

A team of scientists working at the Temple University located in Philadelphia decided to take a closer look at CRISPR/Cas 9 technology and find the way to use it in order to remove HIV-1 genome from human CD4+T cells. These cells are in charge of immune system. Their attempt was successful and HIV-1 genome disappeared completely from the infected cells. This finding might be a watershed moment in our history because HIV-1 is the main source of HIV infections.

Further analysis of the few treated individuals revealed that HIV-1 replication has slowed down and that their general health has improved. These astonishing results are a proof that immune system can repair itself and that CD4+T cells will not be damaged by this brand new treatment. As a matter of fact, the small number of patients who were involved in this study showed a huge progress in a very short period of time.

As we have previously mentioned, the host genome was not affected in any way after this treatment. Their DNA remained unchanged after the successful removal of HIV-1 from the immune cells. There are even indications that the treated cells are almost immune to a new HIV-1 infection, but this claim has to be explored furthermore. However, one thing is certain – the viral load of the treated patients decreased significantly. The research team from Temple University still have plenty of work ahead of them for sure.

The cure for HIV-1?

This trial was not large and it included only a handful of individuals that are infected with HIV-1 virus. It is certainly a huge step forward because this finding might lead us straight to the cure. Various drug therapies are available for the infected patients and they allow them to live a normal life for years to come. However, the virus is still present in their system and it might affect them in the long run if they are not careful. Any step away from the prescribed therapy might bring the virus back to the surface. So yes, once the virus gets into human system, there is no going back.

What makes CRISPR/Cas 9 technology so important is the fact that it can be used to target specific areas of a cell, and modify the parts that need repair. The fact that the technology developed for genetically modifying crops can be used to save thousands and thousands of lives and it might be the solution we have all been waiting for decades is very exciting. Temple University will continue their research and we are all excited to see the results.

First Drought Resistant Maize Successfully Planted in Tanzania

Many countries located in Africa grow maize due to the fact that it has high nutritional values and it can be planted almost everywhere. Unfortunately, due to frequent draughts, the maize crops often fail, leading farmers to huge losses and leaving thousands of people without the they desperately need. Water Efficient Maize for Africa project is about to change the future of crops in Africa by developing a drought resistant genetically modified maize sort that can survive in the toughest conditions imaginable.

The project plans

Hundreds of millions of people all around this continent are dependent on the maize so minimizing the losses was one of the major goals of the scientists working on this project. Funded by non-government organizations from all around the globe, Water Efficient Maize for Africa project wants to deliver their new sort of maize to all farmers who are trying to grow this crop in a challenging climate.

Even though this genetically modified maize has been tested and planted in smaller amounts all over central Africa, it arrived in Tanzania this October. A handful of farmers planted it on their fields and the aim is to reduce the cost of food by growing local crops that will be readily available to everyone living in the surrounding areas. The next step is reaching out to farmers in Mozambique to get them on board in the following months.

Water Efficient Maize for Africa project received positive feedback from numerous countries who are aware of the food problem that has been effecting Africa in the last couple of decades. Genetically modified crops might be the best way to fight the food shortage in these countries and we will see how this plan unfolds in the future.

Developing the seed

Even though scientists has been very supportive of this project from the beginning, not all countries are ready to accept the new technologies. The process of developing and modifying the drought resistant maize has been long. South Africa is a country that accepted genetically modified crops in the past so it comes as no surprise to find out they were the first country who decided to purchase large quantities of drought resistant maize.

Uganda did plenty of testing and successfully planted these crops but the laws of this country did not allow commercialization. Drought resistant maize is sold with the royalty free maize which makes it very useful, but it still wasn’t enough to convince the government to change their law regarding the genetically modified crops entering their country.

The international support

As we have previously mentioned, Water Efficient Maize for Africa project is supported by numerous non-government organizations such as Bill & Melinda Foundation and a couple of agencies from the United States. They are financing the research that will solve the food problem in Africa through developing biotechnology and they are hoping to receive a positive feedback from the African countries in the years to come.

It is important to mention that Water Efficient Maize for Africa project started in 2008 and they are still set on finding and developing various ways to genetically modify the maize seeds in order to make them stronger and more resistant to harsh African. Hopefully, their effort will be more accepted in the future.

Genetically Modified Mosquitos to Battle Zika Virus

Zika virus was all over the headlines this year and it became a real danger to anyone visiting South America. It is spread by mosquito bites and scientists are having a really hard time containing the virus in one place. Since the cure is nowhere in sight, researchers are hoping to find an alternative solution to this problem.

As a matter of fact, two scientists from Virginia Tech decided to tackle the issue head on and try to fight it from within by applying the latest technologies that involve genetically modifying mosquitos. Zuch Adolman and Zhijen Thu started developing a new method of fighting the virus by reducing the number of female mosquitos in one place because they are the ones who are spreading the virus.

So how do they plan to lower the number of female mosquitos? They came up with a new way to convert the female mosquitos to males by genetically modifying their code. The same scientists managed to make alterations to female mosquitos who were spreading malaria and sterilize them by using CRISPR-Cas9 gene modifying technology. They plan to do something similar with mosquitos who are the carriers of the Zika virus.

They have already identified the gene that is responsible for determining the gender of a mosquito and by applying the so called Nix gene to female mosquitos, they were successful in turning them into male mosquitos. That is particularly useful because female mosquitos are the ones who suck blood and transmit the virus via bite. By reducing the number of female mosquitos, a certain area will be less populated with these bugs and the possibility of getting bitten by a mosquito that is a Zika virus carrier will be significantly reduced.

If these two scientists manage to perfect this method of controlling the mosquito population, we will be able to battle various illnesses that are capable of spreading by mosquito bites. It is an excellent way to keep the mosquito population in check without wreaking havoc on the surrounding ecosystem.

CRISPR technology differs from the standard GMOs due to the fact it doesn’t introduce any foreign genes to the organisms that it is modifying. It became pretty well known in the scientific circles because it was successfully applied to mushrooms in order to prevent them from changing color from white to brown, prolonging their shelf life. So CRISPR improves and strengthens the already existing genes within a given species.

Surely, the team from Virginia Tech will need more time to test their findings in a controlled environment so the chances are we won’t be seeing the results of their hard work for the next couple of months. CRISPR gene modifying technology is still a new concept that requires more trials, but they already have a solid foundation because the same team of scientists worked on a similar project. If they do succeed, this method will reduce Zika virus carriers and save thousands of lives all around the globe. Mosquito borne diseases are really hard to fight so hopefully we’ll finally have a solution that will eliminate the threat.

The Longest GMO Research: The Results Are In

The results of the longest GMO research have been released to the public last week and the findings are astonishing. The general public were left in the dark for years regarding the GMO crops and their influence on the economy of a country. A team of economists led by Francesco Ciliberti from The University of Virginia started collecting the data in 1998 and started analyzing it after fourteen years. They focused on the use of pesticides among farmers who are cultivating soy beans and maize, and looked at it from the economic aspect. The released findings mostly focus on the use of pesticides that include herbicides and insecticides and the final results are quite interesting.

The team and the research

Francesco Ciliberti managed to assemble a team of respectable economists who do have years of experience with data analysis. The majority of the team members come from respectable universities from all around the United States. They started their research back in 1998, selecting 10,000 US farmers who were growing soy beans and maize.

Have in mind that every past research that touched upon this topic usually covered only two or three years, so this study is definitely the largest (so far). Soy beans and maize are the most commonly cultivated crops in the world so it comes as no surprise that they decided to focus on the farmers who were growing those plants. The team selected the candidates and followed their journey from planting the first crop in 1998, to making a decision to grow GMO crops, and everything that followed, including the usage of pesticides and insecticides during each year.

GMO soy beans are modified in order to hold out against various weeds that ruin the crops, while genetically modified maize is resistant to pests. After planting the genetically modified crops, farmers did report the decrease in usage of herbicides and insecticides. They simply did not need it in the first couple of years of cultivating the genetically crops. However, the situation did change after a couple of years.

The results

Planting and growing GMO crops do have a significant impact on the economy due to the fact that the crops in question are more resistant to the outside factors and they generally give more produce at the end of each harvest. Additionally, farmers spend far less money on pesticides since they are not needed in this situation.

However, this research discovered that after some time, genetically modified plants do change the environment around them and even though they don’t require specific herbicides or insecticides, they do give in to other weeds or pests. For instance, weeds that grow around genetically modified soy develop immunity and farmers usually start using large amounts of herbicides in order to keep the situation under control.

This fact alone has a huge impact on the economy and the farming methods since farmers have to spend more money on various chemicals in order to battle this unexpected situation that can arise after years of growing genetically modified crops. On the other hand, insects are not reacting in the same way to genetically modified crops probably because they breed with other insects who do not live in the same.

The team was surprised by their findings regarding the increased usage of herbicides and the impact it has on the economy. The patterns were quite clear so dealing with this problem should definitely be the next goal of GMO researchers who develop the crops in order to reduce the weed resistance and keep the balance.

The Passing of GMO Labeling Law: The Results So Far

When Obama passed a GMO labeling law in July, it became the first bill of this kind in history. The law itself was two years in the making, it will follow Vermont’s GMO labeling law and it will go country-wide. The law received mixed opinions by both politicians and the public that demanded more rigid and strict rules. To put it as shortly as possible, GMO labeling law requires some sort of insignia, whether a label or a QR code stating that a product contains GMO ingredients.

Vermont is the first US state that passed a GMO labeling law. Every company is required to disclose all the data about the possible GMO ingredients in each they sell in this state. Even though this law is exactly what the public wants (as a matter of fact, 90% or surveyed citizens clearly stated that they wish to know if there are GMO ingredients in the foods they are buying), it seems that Vermont’s GMO labeling law has a couple of flaws.

QR Codes

QR codes weren’t a part of the labeling law in the first place but Obama’s revised version supports them and now QR codes are allowed as well. So in order to find out all the ingredients in a product, you have to scan a code with your smartphone. This decision received a lot of criticism from the public due to the fact that not everyone has time to scan each product separately and it can get a bit tiresome. It is a waste of time for many shoppers and despite the general presumption, smartphones are not so common.

So the GMO labeling law became almost useless even though it was a great idea in the beginning. Transparency is very important when it comes to the relationship between GMO products and the consumers. The United States already produces large quantities of GMO foods that are sold on a daily basis. The research of the GMO ingredients that can be found in certain foods did not show any negative results, but people are still a bit wary about the genetically modified foods they might be consuming.

This distrust for the certain food manufacturing companies comes from the fear of the unknown. So in order to gain more support from the public, food manufacturers should disclose the ingredients regardless of their origin. This is the best way to teach the public about GMO foods and show them there is nothing to fear. Believe it or not, a vast number of people are not even aware they consume GMO products every single day and they might even claim that they eat organic foods. Education of the consumers is everything if we want to move on and develop more efficient and pest resistant food products that will be cheaper and easier to produce, and full disclosure is crucial. So GMO labeling law looks like something that will aid this mission. However, it seems that the public is not in favor of QR codes, so we should simply wait and see how many companies will use them on their products.

China’s Support for GMO Soy Beans

China is known as a country that already integrated GMO cotton seeds in the regular production so it comes as no surprise to find out that they are considering using GMO soy beans in the next five years in order to boost the production of the said plant. The agricultural sector is looking to reform the production methods and they want to include more research in the entire process.

The five year development plan encourages manufacturers who are already growing pest resistant corn to plant soybeans on their fields as well, switching between the crops in order to yield more product that will be ready for both animal and human consumption. As a matter of fact, China depends a lot on soy production due to the fact that this crop is used in everyday diets of a large number of citizens.

Besides using soy beans for soy milk and tofu production, China is known for exporting soy all around the globe. They already produce large quantities of this plant and it does require plenty of work in terms of protecting the crops against various pests and diseases. Using pest resistant seeds will save a lot of money that is typically spent.

Having in mind that the United States already use GMO soy plants for both human and animal consumption, China’s decision is completely justified. It is a long term plan that will allow the researchers to further examine the effects of the crops and it will open more doors to scientific development.

Huang Dafang who works as a professor at the Biotechnology Research Institute which is a part of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences claims that even though growing GMO soy beans is among the priorities in this five year plan, it will likely take a backseat and the production of pest resistant corn will continue to be a priority since corn is more commonly used for feeding animals and livestock. Therefore, China will continue planting and producing more non GMO soy beans in the future. The public trusts the manufacturers and GMO soy might receive a huge backlash from the consumers. Non GMO soy beans are more expensive and it seems that the consumers are willing to pay a bit more in order to get the natural product they desire.

On the other hand, if China plans on feeing their livestock with soy beans, it is clear that they need to spike up the production. The best way to do so is to try planting pest resistant soy crops. The GMO corn seems to be completely harmless to the animals and testing the soybeans in the same environment will most likely bring positive results.

Since corn is used for manufacturing various sweeteners and other products that are used in human diets, it is more likely that the mass production of this plant will remain a priority for many manufacturers. But let’s wait and see what will happen with the China’s five year plan and will they start with the mass production of pest resistant soy beans as they initially planned.

The Economics of Genetically Modified Crops

The potential of genetically engineered crops is manifold. This occurs even in the midst of the dwindling effects it has on the resource base thus promising a significant increase in productivity hence promoting sustainability regarding food supply as well as the provision of raw materials for the rapidly growing population. Genetically modified crops give rise to environmental benefits that play a central role in alleviating poverty through income generation especially in developing countries. It is through genetically modified foods that there is a nutritional enhancement in the plants hence offering a new platform through which human health is enhanced.

In spite of the contributions that are realized through the introduction of GM crops, its development has aroused lots of opposition. This is particularly high in Europe, and the effect has spilled over to other parts of the globe. This is through such aspects as trade regulations, media coverage as well as the establishment of outreach groups that intend to lobby anti-biotechnology usage. The key driving forces for these issues is the concern over the environment, health risks as well as social implication effects. For example, there is fear that consumption of GM crops and foods derived from them having the potential to undermine traditional knowledge systems, especially in developing countries.

Regarding economics, the increase in privatization of crop improvement research has aroused possible monopolization of the seed market and thus causing adverse exploitation of the farmers in the region. This is because GM crops are associated with novel possibilities that have triggered research dealing with aspects of the economy and policy making. Through this article, there is a clear outline of the economic factors that relate to GM crops.

Status of GM crops

Commercialization of GM crops
The commercial application of the GM crops goes way back to the mid-1990s and has then spread across the globe. According to reports released in 2008, GM crops were grown in over 25 countries in over 120 ha of land. However, the US registered the highest share of GM crops accounting for 50 % of total ha across the globe. Despite the fact that there is a significant increase in approval of GM technologies in some countries in Europe, the commercialization of the GM crops is still negligible. This is because of a low level of public acceptance as well as other regulatory framework factors that are not favorable.
Today, there is a limited number of technologies that are commercialized including herbicide tolerance in soybeans among others. GM maize also has been introduced to confer herbicide tolerance as well as resistance against insects. The resistance against insects is based on a wide range of genes that spring from Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium. It is these Bt genes that play a central role in the control of corn rootworm, corn borers as well as other stem borers.

Micro-level impact of the first generation GM plants
Many of the studies that focus on the micro-level impact of GM plants are currently based on random sample surveys as well as a comparison of adopter performances with non-adopter GM crops. However, this kind of comparison is characterized by selectivity bias. Additionally, its adoption may give rise to an overestimation of technological impacts and underestimation of farmers’ impact under certain conditions. Bacillus thuringiensis technology is a promising platform for control of pests in the environment. Some of the approaches that are geared towards addressing selectivity bias using econometric means include;

Empirical evidence: Bt GMO plants do not entirely get rid of the need for sprays against insects. This is because there still crop damage that occurs. The reason for this is based on the fact that Bt toxins have a high specificity for certain species of pests while insect pests are not affected at all. There is evidence that insecticide-reducing effect, as well as yield increasing the effect, is observed on the international front with high scores reported in Argentina and India.
Conventional cotton farmers often use very low levels of insecticides and thus effectiveness in controlling pests is small. However, the use of pesticides in India is higher. This suggests that there is a yield effect of the Bt technology is influenced by the quantity and quality of insecticides used hence control of damage on cotton. Additionally, the resistance to insecticides, as well as the timing of spraying the GM crops, is also to be considered xxx.

Econometric estimates: using different models, this confirms the net effect on insecticide reduction and increasing effect on yield in using the Bt technology. This is evident through the demonstration that part of the impact variation that was seen in some countries like India was because of integration of the Bt gene in a few cotton varieties that did not suit the location. This is because the positive impact of this gene was undermined by the adverse effect of the germ-plasm.
This indicates that the full benefits of GM plants can be realized through the insertion of the target gene in a wide range of varieties that are locally adaptable. This is the approach that is used in reducing the occurrence of selectivity issues as well as problems associated with endogeneity.

Gross margin effect: farmers that have been shown to adopt Bt technologies have benefited from the economic advantage that is related to female entrepreneurs saving insecticides as well as high yields. This means that on average the gross margin gains are estimated to be very high in the case of such crops as GM Bt maize and GM Bt cotton. Additionally, the cost of seeds is much lower in developing countries as opposed to other regions of the world. This is attributed to the weak aspects that relate to intellectual property rights, seed production, subsidies as well as other price interventions that are set by the government. Additionally, other factors such as agricultural policies play a role in determining the gross margin effects.

Conclusion
Aspects that relate to economics play a pivotal role in determining novel ways through which social benefits can be maximized. This means that more effort is to be directed towards quantification of possible indirect effects of GM plants and the outcome it has on health and the surrounding environment. This is through a significant contribution made by economists in designing efficient regulations and innovative systems. This could finally lead to advanced levels of income generated from the sale of GM crops.

Enriched Banana Project

The third world countries have been facing a high rate of deaths that could have been prevented by adding the common vitamin supplements into the diets of those individuals who are in need. However, this is a huge undertaking that requires a lot of funding and donations. It simply cannot be done right now at the scale that is required in order to save lives. However, there are a couple of alternatives for battling this issue and they include genetically modified foods. In this case, that would be bananas.
Bananas are already hailed as one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are rich in carbohydrates and therefore, they are a great source of energy. Besides that, bananas contain a number of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin B6 and manganese. All of these are simply essential when it comes to having a healthy metabolism and a strong body. But what if we could improve the levels of the nutrients in bananas and create the ultimate superfood? Well, with the technology we have today, we actually can.
Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in undeveloped countries and a group of researchers who were inspired by golden rice that is still feeding millions of people worldwide, providing them with plenty of energy and nutrients, decided to take a closer look at the ways they could genetically modify bananas. They were successful and managed to add higher levels of vitamin A into a standard banana.
The general plan is to try to cultivate this GMO plant in Uganda and the surrounding countries because the climate there will help the plants grow faster. Plus, this would provide an easier access to genetically modified bananas for everyone in need. The levels of vitamin A in a single banana meet the daily needs and that means you will need to eat just one in order to prevent the vitamin deficiency.
On the other hand, scientists who are working on this project are very aware of the possible backlash this banana might receive from those who are afraid of GMO or oppose modifications. They do point out that this is not a true GMO product – they didn’t introduce any foreign DNA to the banana but simply enriched what was already inside. Sure enough, it was produced in a laboratory, but the structure of the fruit remained the same. The only visible difference is in the color of the banana peel – standard bananas are green or yellow, while enriched bananas are a bit orange.
But just like every genetically modified food, the enriched banana simply have to go through testing and need to get the final approval from the FDA. Since these trials take time, it is unlikely that we will get the answer in the next two years. All in all, the researchers who are a driving force behind this project are hoping that they will be able to start planting these bananas by 2020.
If they deliver just a fraction of the golden rice results, the death rate due to vitamin deficiency will greatly decrease. Golden rice has saved millions of lives all around the globe. Enriched banana is a superb idea that might actually work if they get the green light from the authorities who are governing the food safety, production, and distribution.
Enriched bananas have received plenty of support and public seems to be generally interested in this project. The majority of comments are positive and all we need to do right now is wait and see what FDA has to say. It seems like enriched bananas might be the answer we were looking for to solve this serious problem.